2/10/03 Information evening on wind energy to take place in Cork
Media Information 3rd April 2003
Information evening on wind energy to take place in Cork
Wind power in Ireland set for major growth – expert predicts
Utilisation of wind energy in Ireland is likely to treble in the next two years. That is according to Paul Kellett, Technical Manager, Sustainable Energy Ireland’s (SEI) Renewable Energy Information Office who was announcing details of an information evening in Cork on the issue of wind energy in Ireland.
The event, to be hosted by SEI’s Renewable Energy Information Office, will be held at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork on Wednesday 9 April 2003, starting at 6.30pm.
Speaking ahead of the event Mr. Kellett said: “The information evening will focus on some of the topical issues facing the development of wind energy in Ireland including the results from the first stage of SEI’s recent study ‘Public Attitudes to Wind Energy’, and the integration of wind turbines onto the Irish landscape. We will also be reporting on the development and current status of Ireland’s first Wind Atlas, and look at the options in financing a wind project.”
Wind power has been in use for thousands of years and is now a growing business that offers real investment and development opportunities. Currently, in Ireland there are 25 operational wind farms with a total installed capacity of 140 MW, meeting the average electricity needs of over 90,000 homes – equivalent to a city the size of Limerick.
Ireland has one of the best wind regimes in Europe, and with all the environmental benefits of replacing conventional fossil fuel fired generation, harnessing this abundant natural resource will contribute to a diverse, secure and sustainable energy supply for Ireland.
Mr Kellett said: “The Government’s recent announcement of the Sixth Alternative Energy Requirement (AER VI) to support the development of over 500 MW’s of new wind energy generating plant by 2005 should give rise to a period of sustained development in this sector.”
The information evening will be of particular interest to anyone wanting more details on how to develop a wind project, such as landowners, farmers and their associations looking to support rural incomes. The event will also be of interest to financiers and planners with responsibility for wind farm applications and county development plans, as well as to local authority engineers, energy consultants and manufacturers.
Sustainable Energy Ireland, formerly the Irish Energy Centre, was established on May 1st, 2002, as a statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of sustainable energy and is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 with programmes part financed by the European Union.
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For further information please contact:
Paul Dykes, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Renewable Energy Information Office, Shinagh House, Bandon, Co Cork. (Tel 023 29146) Web:www.sei.ie
Note to Editors:
About Wind power – Ireland’s oil well in the sky
- The Governments policy on increasing the contribution towards meeting Irelands energy needs from renewable energy generally and wind energy particularly is clearly stated in the Green Paper on Sustainable energy September 1999).
- Wind energy is a local source of economic electricity. It is Ireland’s largest energy source, is close to hand and gives us many unbeatable advantages.
- Wind provides long-term employment and prosperity. Ireland spends billions of euro each year on imported energy. Investing in our own wind energy resources rather than imports would create thousands of new, secure Irish jobs, boost the exchequer returns and reduce our balance of payments.
- Wind is an economical and price stable fuel, which will give us long-term international competitive advantages.
- Wind energy will help us to meet our national and international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid financial penalties and punitive fines.
- Wind ensures security of our energy supply and brings flexibility to our energy options. Wind reduces our over reliance and dependence on imported energy. Ireland is now the most energy import dependent country in the industrialised world, importing 90% of all our fuel.
